Monthly round-up
Best moments in British tennis – April 2024
It's been another busy month in the world of British tennis with the Billie Jean King Cup, LTA Tennis Awards and yet more titles. Catch up on all the headlines from April.
GB upset France in Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers
The Lexus Great Britain Billie Jean King Cup team are through to the Finals in Seville later this year after claiming an impressive 3-1 win over France on the clay in Le Portel.
After going one match behind, Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter pulled out all the stops to win three straight rubbers against a strong French side.
Raducanu was the star of the show, sealing a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over former world No.4 and WTA Final champion Caroline Garcia, before another comeback win over Diane Parry 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(1) to wrap up the tie.
Boulter bounced back from her early set back to defeat world No.44 Clara Burel 7-5, 6-0 early on day two.
"It's going to take a lot to wipe this smile off my face - what a day" said Captain Anne Keothavong.
"I’m just so chuffed for the team – we came here and we knew it was going to be difficult and we were the underdogs, but we came, we performed and now we’re all leaving with a smile on our face."
The team move on to the Finals in Seville from 12-20 November where they will play Germany in the first round of the new tournament format.
Doubles stars bring home titles
There were a number of British titles again in April, with a particular focus on Britain’s doubles stars.
Henry Patten won his first ATP title at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech with Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara before backing it up a week later at the Madrid Challenger.
Luke Johnson and Oliver Crawford both bagged Challenger crowns at events in Rome and Sarasota with their respective partners, while Emily Appleton won back-to-back W75 doubles titles in Charlottesville and Chiasso.
Meanwhile, on home soil, 15-year-old Mika Stojsavljevic lifted her first professional singles title at the Lexus GB Pro Series Nottingham, with Paul Jubb securing the men’s singles trophy as well.
Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid won their second Super Series doubles trophy of the season at the Japan Open, where Hewett also finished runner-up in the singles.
Ruby Bishop also claimed the Plock Polish Open with Spain’s Lola Ochoa, while Martha Harris won the Premier Racket Club Wheelchair Classic doubles.
Regional LTA Awards winners announced
Amazing individuals and thriving venues from across the country have been honoured as winners in this year’s LTA Tennis Awards, presented by Lexus.
The regional winners, selected from more than 2,200 nominations across 12 different categories, have been acknowledged for their outstanding contribution to tennis in 2023.
They also highlight the incredible achievements of some 17,000 LTA registered venues and more than 9,000 LTA-approved tournaments in helping to grow tennis around the country.
Congratulations to all our regional winners – we look forward to the revealing the national champions on 2 July at the National Tennis Centre, Roehampton.
Lexus Junior National Championships
It has been a stellar year for British juniors around the world, with the 2024 Lexus Junior National Championships at the National Tennis Centre providing a stage to showcase an impressive array of talent emerging through the domestic tennis system.
Mimi Xu from Wales South was crowned as British champion in the 18U Girls event and Surrey's Oliver Bonding backed up his solid 12 months of success by becoming national champion in the 18U Boys tournament, with both players now set to play in Wimbledon Qualifying in June.
In the 16U events Hertfordshire's Hollie Smart and Surrey's Mark Ceban added their names to a list of illustrious former winners including Andy Murray, Heather Watson and Dan Evans.
LTA partner with Barclays
We recently announced a new five-year partnership with Barclays that aims to get 150,000 people playing tennis more regularly, building on our ongoing ambition to get half a million more people playing tennis in parks across Britain.
Barclays Free Park Tennis is the first of three initiatives the partnership will launch.
Rolling out across the nation in 100 public parks by the end of 2024, free one-hour volunteer-led tennis sessions will take place on either Saturday or Sunday at 10:00 at public parks throughout England, Scotland and Wales, allowing the public to enjoy the benefits of tennis, whether their goals are improving their health, meeting new people, or simply trying out a new sport this summer.
Clare Balding, Barclays Ambassador, said: “As a Barclays ambassador I have seen first-hand the hugely positive impact their grassroot football programmes have made to local communities. As soon as I saw their work in action, I knew I had to be part of helping launch and roll out their new tennis initiative to get 150,000 more people playing a game that really is for everyone. Whether you’ve never held a racket before, you used to play, or you’d love to get your children playing, Barclays Free Park tennis is for you. I can’t wait to see even more people discover and love tennis like I do.”
Find out more about Barclays Free Park Tennis
Tennis venues leading the way in sustainability
The climate crisis, and the way our environment is being altered, has the potential to inflict significant and irreversible damage on tennis in this country, as well as on wider sport and society.
Since the launch of our Environmental Sustainability Plan in 2022, we're proud of the way in which clubs and venues across Britain have embraced the need for sustainability, and Bramhall Queensgate Tennis Club in Stockport and Barnt Green Sports Club just outside Birmingham are two such examples.
Through the LTA Pledgeball League introduced last summer, which sought to support, promote and encourage the uptake of sustainability practices by tennis venues across Britain, and those who play at them, these clubs have made a commitment to positive change.